Toro Rosso: Brendon Hartley will replace Gasly at the US Grand Prix

Scuderia Toro Rosso announced today that Brendon Hartley will drive for the team at the Formula 1 US Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas on October 22. It would be a Formula 1 debut for the 27-year-old driver from New Zealand, who left single-seater racing in 2013 to focus on sports car racing, winning the FIA World Endurance Championship in 2015 and Le Mans 24 Hours in 2017. He’s also the current leader in the FIA WEC.

As expected, Toro Rosso driver Pierre Gasly will try to catch Japanese Super Formula Championship title on the same weekend at Suzuka Circuit, so the team had to find a replacement. Few names were in a game but Toro Rosso team boss Franz Tost made a choice on Hartley.

Brendon Hartley is returning to Toro Rosso

Hartley already worked with Red Bull and Toro Rosso back in 2009 and 2010, serving as a test driver while competing in the Formula 3 and Formula Renault 3.5 Series.

“What an amazing feeling. This opportunity came as somewhat of a surprise, but I never did give up on my ambition and childhood dream to reach F1. I have grown and learnt so much since the days when I was the Red Bull and Toro Rosso reserve driver, and the tough years I went through made me stronger and even more determined. COTA is a track I really enjoy and one I have raced at recently. I’m trying not to put too many expectations on my F1 debut, but I feel ready for it,” said Brendon Hartley.